Grave lining



Feb. 13, 1934. LANGE 1,946,976

GRAVE LINING Filed 001 11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l fv vz/vroa M0226 LJWVGE' ver W P'atented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to grave linings, which are used by undertakers, etc., during burials; in particular, it contemplates the production of an economical, easily handled grave lining with the feature of perfect reversibility.

As is well known, the sight of a newly dug grave is abhorrent to the sensibilities of most people; and in the case of mourners at a funeral, it is apt to cause reactions of an unpleasant nature. It is common practice with undertakers to cover the newly turned earth with a lining of some sort; this may be turf or fabric, but it is preferably artificial grass. When artificial grass linings were first introduced, it was common practice to line the grave with a single piece, the undertakers assistant lowering himself into the grave and tacking the lining in place. The ground outside the grave was then carpeted with more pieces of this grass, held down solidly by pegs. This arrangement was troublesome, re-

quiring as it did a descent into the grave to fix the lining.

The next step forward in the art was the provision of linings which could be hung from the ground outside thegrave. Four pieces were used-two on the side, each the length of the grave (8 feet), and two at the ends (3% feet). The pieces were so cut as to give sufiicient coverage of both the sides of the grave, and the ground outside the grave. In order to make a rectangular plot, it was necessary to provide the end pieces with tabs at both sides, to fill in the corners. This gave T shaped end pieces with rec'- tangular' side pieces. 3 Because of the fact that the larger part of the grave linings, which are used inside of the graves, get little wear, while the smaller part, used to carpet the earth around the grave, get considerable wear from repeated use at funerals, the grave linings wear unevenly; and it becomes necessary to replace them long before the lower halves have lost their serviceability. The side rectangular pieces are reversible, of course; but

the T shaped end pieces are not. They may be replaced; or they may be cut to rectangular shape and four corner pieces used. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to match the pieces exactly, as they take dye differently; and new pieces will never exactly match the slightly weathered appearance of the lower halves of the side pieces.

I have discovered that this objection may be overcome, and a reversible grave lining produced of exceedingly simple construction, by providing bendable tabs at all four corners of the end pieces of the grave lining, and by providing holding means to keep the tabs at the bottom in folded position. This will be readily understood by reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a grave, with one end cut off, showing my new grave lining set in position.

Figure 2 is a front plan of an end piece of my set, in unfolded position.

Figure 3 is a back plan of an end piece of my set, in folded position.

Figure 4 is a back view of a side piece of an alternate form of my invention.

Figure5 is a sectional elevation of the joint connecting the main portion of a piece with a foldable tab, to show the manner of hingeing.

Referring to the drawings, (1) represents a newly dug grave on which my grave set is to be hung. The side pieces (2) are hung by pegs driven through eyelets (12) so that they form a top portion (3) and a dependent portion (4). The end pieces (5) are similarly hung so they form a principal top portion (6) and a bottom portion (7); to the top portion are connected two tabs (8), along the lines (11). Connected to the bottom portion (7) are more tabs (8), identical with those at the top; these are folded over along the line (11), and are preferably held to the main portion (7), at the center bottom, by a removable spring clip (9) of stainless steel. This prevents the tendency of the bottom tabs to fall inward from acting, and permits the portion ('7) to lie smoothly against the end of the grave. The clip (9) may be used at the top end when thatend is reversed. If desired, spring clips (9) may be sewed permanently to both ends of the piece.

Figure 5 illustrates the manner in which the end pieces are constructed, so as to permit of bending without harming the appearance of the piece. As is well known, artificial turf consists of a fabric backing (14) and tufts of fiber (13), which are bunched at the bottom and spread out slightly at the top. The line (11), joining the tabs to the main body of the end pieces, must be exactly half-way between two rows of tufts. In this manner, the fabric serves as a hinge, one tuft overlying the end on one side, and one on the other side. If the line (11), should be close to one of the tufts, on bending. that row of tufts would be so disarranged that on reversal the line of tufts would no longer simulate grass, and

the desirable serenity of the scene of burial would be broken.

In this manner, the rectangular pieces (2) which are reversible, co-operate with the H shaped pieces (5), which are also reversible, to form a perfectly reversible grave lining set. All the pieces may be cut from a single piece of artificial grass, thus insuring a perfect match in color and general appearance; and in use, the pieces may be reversed for each funeral, thus insuring even wear. The reversible set may thus give practically double service as compared with the ordinary set now available at practically no extra cost.

Another form of my invention is illustrated in Figure 4. Instead of putting the extra tabs (8) on the end piece, I may make side pieces (2) with tabs (8) attached, in the same manner, at (11). The end pieces (5) in this case are T shaped, as are the side pieces. Clips may be used to hold the pieces (8') in folded position. Instead of using clips to attach the tabs, I may sew to the fabric of the tabs suction cups (10). When the pieces are put into position on the end, for example, the tabs are not folded under, but are permitted to lie over on the sides. A spade, etc., may then be used to push the tabs over to the side, where the suction cups will hold them after being tapped into position. This modification is particularly useful where the earth of the cemeteries is apt to stain the artificial grass which faces the earth. With the other form, of course, it is possible in such a case to provide a cardboard sheet, held in place by the clips (9). The suction cup modification is of little use on sandy, porous soils, where the porosity of the earth destroys the adhesion; it is intended for use on clay soils, which, when wet, are sticky, non-porous and staining. While the covering on the clip form of lining protects the grass, I prefer to have it face outward in such soils, to minimize the danger. The suction cup modification permits this, and gives satisfactory adhesion, partially due to the stickiness of the clay, but more particularly to its relative non-porosity.

In either form of the invention, the basic idea is to provide extra, tabs at the bottom, to provide means for preventing the presence of the tabs from disturbing the appearance of the lining, and to attach the tabs in such manner that when reversed and laid out fiat, no break will be visible due to the bending.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular sheets of fabric adapted to overlie the sides and ends of a grave, rectangular tabs attached to the tops of said sheets, adapted to complete a rectangle with the portions of the sheets outside the grave, and similar tabs attached to the bottoms of said sheets.

2. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular sheets of fabric adapted to overlie the sides and ends of a grave, rectangular tabs attached to the tops of said sheets adapted to complete a rectangle with the portions of the sheets outside the grave, similar tabs attached to the bottoms of said sheets, and means for holding the tabs flat against the sides of the grave.

3. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular sheets of fabric adapted to overlie the sides and ends of a grave, rectangular tabs attached to the tops of said sheets adapted to complete a rectangle with the portions of the sheets outside the grave, similar tabs attached to the bottoms of said sheets, and spring clips on the lining for holding the tabs flat against the sides of the grave.

4. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular sheets of fabric adapted to overlie the sides and ends of a grave, rectangular tabs attached to the tops of said sheets adapted to complete a rectangle with the portions of the sheets outside the grave, similar tabs attached to the bottoms of said sheets, and suction cups on the lining for holding the tabs fiat against the sides of the grave.

5. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular sheets of tufted fabric adapted to overlie the sides and ends of a grave, rectangular tabs foldably attached to the tops of said sheets along a line of the fabric midway between two rows of tufts, and adapted to complete a rectangle with the portions of the sheets outside the grave, and similar tabs foldably attached to the bottoms of said sheets.

6. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular sheets of tufted fabric adapted to overlie the sides and ends of a grave, rectangular tabs foldably attached to the tops of said sheets along a line of the fabric midway between two rows of tufts, and adapted to complete a rectangle with the portions of the sheets outside the grave, similar tabs foldably attached to the bottoms of said sheets, and means for holding the tabs flat against the sides of the grave.

7. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular sheets of tufted fabric adapted to overlie the sides and ends of a grave, rectangular tabs foldably attached to the tops of said sheets along a line of the fabric midway between two rows of tufts, and adapted to complete a rectangle with the portions of the sheets outside the grave, similar tabs foldably attached to the v bottom of said sheets, and spring clips on the lining for holding the tabs fiat against the sides of the grave.

8. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular sheets of tufted fabric adapted to overlie the sides and ends of a grave, rectangular tabs foldably attached to the tops of said sheets along a line of the fabric midway between two rows of tufts, and adapted to complete a rectangle with the portions of the sheets outside 11 the grave, similar tabs foldably attached to the bottoms of said sheets, and suction cups on the lining and holding the tabs fiat against the sides of the grave.

9. An artificial grass grave lining comprising rectangular side members and H shaped end members.

MORRIS LANGE. 

